Havering Council has been accused of “double standards” after a motorist snapped a picture of a traffic parking and control car parked on yellow lines.

Dell Platt, was driving along Goodwood Avenue, Hornchurch, just before 9am on Friday when what appeared to be a parking contravention was spotted.

Mr Platt said the law promoted by parking enforcement officers was at the same time being unfairly disregarded.

“Please try and explain the parking arrangements made by the council that permits its employees to commit this parking offence,” he said.

“It is a blatant flouting of the law by the person concerned in his or her position.”

But a spokesman for Havering Council said: “Civil enforcement officers are allowed to park on double yellow lines whilst carrying out their duties, provided that in all circumstances it is reasonably necessary for the vehicle to stop in that location.”

The Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974, amended by the London Local Authorities Act 2000, enables the council to act as a highway authority.

This in turn allows CCTV or similar enforcement cars to park on restrictions while carrying out their duties.

In an email seen by the Recorder to Dell from the authority, a council officer was patrolling the area around Hacton Primary School, Chepstow Avenue, Hornchurch.

And the officer told his superiors that he was unable to park further back as he would have blocked a resident’s driveway.

“It is never the intention of the service to cause hazardous conditions or create a dangerous situation,” continued the spokesman.

But Dell added: “Where the vehicle was parked the actual road has no other yellow lines other than those he was parked on.

“Maybe if he parked in the next road along and walked 30 meters he would comply with the rule for the general public.”

“[From the picture] I would think it was reasonable to say that the vehicle was parked within the 15 metres of the turning causing a hazard.”

Steven Knightley also criticised a patrol car parked on a busy road in Romford.

“There are many other places this vehicle could have parked which would have been safer for all,” he said.

“ The only reason it didn’t do so was because it was sitting as a trap.

“The safer option would have been to park at the beginning of the lay-by on the same side of the road as ASDA.”

People who find a traffic parking and control parked on a yellow line but not carrying out their duties are asked to contact parkingenforcement@havering.gov.uk.